Machado on ejection: 'I have to pay the consequences'

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado talked about being ejected in the 5th inning after arguing a third strike. (Kevin Richardson/Baltimore Sun video)

Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado talked about being ejected in the 5th inning after arguing a third strike. (Kevin Richardson/Baltimore Sun video)

By Daniel Gallen, The Baltimore Sun

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado spoke to reporters Thursday night after his first career major league ejection in the fifth inning against Cleveland ended a streak of 1,206 consecutive innings played to begin his career.

On the play, Machado swung at a curveball down and away out of the zone. The ball bounced and was corralled by Indians catcher Carlos Santana. Home plate umpire Will Little ruled Machado out, but Machado thought he had made contact with the ball.

“Something I said wrong to the umpire, and I have to pay the consequences for it,” Machado said when asked what happened. “Let my team down. Obviously, something that won’t happen again.”

Little ejected Machado quickly as he walked back to the dugout. Machado turned back to Little, and manager Buck Showalter came out of the dugout.

“I was surprised,” Machado said. “I was surprised. It was just something that just happened, something that I just regret.”

Did Machado feel the ejection was justified?

“I think so,” Machado said. “I think so. At least from my part. Probably from his, too. I’ll move on. Hopefully, tomorrow we’ll continue the success that we had from this last series. Hopefully come out and take some games.”

Machado’s absence didn’t hurt the Orioles too badly. In fact, it may have sparked them. The next five Orioles in the lineup would reach base as the Orioles stormed back from a 3-2 deficit with a five-run inning.

“I would have loved to be out there with my team,” Machado said. “Obviously, I wasn’t. That comes with the consequences. Upside of this, the team won … came out with a win. We split the series, and tomorrow’s a new day.”

Machado wasn’t aware of the consecutive innings streak when he was ejected. His streak of 131 consecutive starts to begin his career remains intact, though.

“When I heard about it, the streak I had going, obviously it’s devastating,” Machado said. “But I just caused that on myself. That’s something that, like I said before, something that I just have to pay the consequences for, and I did.”

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